Confidence, goals and Game On!

Riley might be young, but she's already proving that a rare condition like CHARGE Syndrome won't stop her from scoring goals - both on and off the field.

Born with hearing and vision loss and balance issues due to missing parts of her middle ear, Riley is Deafblind. Yet, none of that dims her enthusiasm. When her mum, Tania, learned about the Inclusive Sports afterschool sessions through a BLENNZ (Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ) contact, she knew it was worth a try.

“I thought it sounded great, and we’ve been going along every Monday afternoon since the end of last year,” says Tania. “Riley absolutely loves it!”

The Inclusive Sports afterschool sessions ran by Disability Sport Auckland offer children of all abilities a pressure-free chance to try new sports and connect with peers. For Riley, the opportunity has been transformative.

“Every week she comes home beaming that she’s learned something new and has ‘got a goal!’” says Tania. “If the session’s not on for any reason — she gets upset. She was especially proud when she played soccer ‘just like mummy’.”

Adapting sport for access

Because of her hearing and vision impairments, Riley communicates best when people speak directly in front of her so she can lip-read, ideally up close. She wears a cochlear implant on her left side but can’t hear at all on the right. She also uses some sign language.

“It’s no use shouting across the field,” explains Tania. “She doesn’t know which direction sound is coming from.”

Tania says the sessions work so well because the instructor gets down to her level and shows her what to do. The instructor takes the time to explain the game and gives her enough time and space to practice the skills she has learnt.

Raising awareness of inclusive sports in the Deaf and hard of hearing community

While the sessions have been a hit for Riley, Tania points out that many other parents may not even know these kinds of inclusive sports opportunities exist.

“I’ve never heard other parents of Deaf kids talking about it,” she says. “We found out about it through the vision side, not the hearing side.”

Tania believes that there is still a gap in awareness when it comes to inclusive sports and that this gap needs bringing – especially in the Deaf community who often does not consider themselves to be “disabled”.

Building a more inclusive sports culture

At the heart of Game On is a mission to create more Deaf-aware sporting environments. Through workshops, resources, and hands-on experiences, the programme helps coaches and instructors feel confident adapting their approach so children like Riley can fully participate and thrive.

But while the benefits of inclusive sport are clear, many clubs still face challenges. Findings from the National Club Sports Survey 2023 reveal:

• 60% of clubs say they have barriers that need addressing for disabled people

• Only 34% feel confident their staff can meet disabled athletes’ needs

• Just 14% view inclusion as a community priority

These numbers show that we still have work to do — and why initiatives like Game On are so important.

As one recent workshop participant said:

“Game On gave us the tools and knowledge needed to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for our members. We’d highly recommend it to other sport and recreation organisations.” — Marcus, Disability Sport Auckland

The workshop is educational and impactful.  It enhances sport clubs’ skills and confidence in working with the Deaf and hard of hearing communities.

Game On! Deaf awareness in sports workshop

For Riley and her whānau, inclusion isn’t just a concept — it’s a Monday afternoon ritual filled with smiles, movement, and moments of pride. And it’s just the beginning.